TOWN OF TUFTONBORO

PO BOX 98, 240 MIDDLE ROAD

CENTER TUFTONBORO, NH  03816

Telephone (603) 569-4539

Fax (603) 569-4328

 

 

Selectmen’s Meeting                                                               November 26, 2007

 

Minutes

 

Approved w/corrections:  12.3.07

PRESENT:  Chairman Weeks, Selectman Stockman, Selectman Duffy, Administrative Assistant Pounder, Administrator Forrester

 

I.    CALL TO ORDER:   Chairman Weeks called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.

 

II.   REVIEW / APPROVAL MINUTES:

November 19 Selectmen’s Minutes – The minutes were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Chairman Weeks seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

November 19 Non-Public Minutes #1 – The minutes were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes. Chairman Weeks seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

November 19 Non-Public Minutes #2 – The minutes were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes. Chairman Weeks seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

November 19 Work Session Minutes – The minutes were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected.  Chairman Weeks seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

November 20 Work Session Minutes - The minutes were reviewed.  Chairman Weeks made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected.  Selectman Stockman seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

November 20 Non-Public Minutes – The minutes were reviewed.  Selectman Stockman made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Chairman Weeks seconded the motion.  Vote on the motion was unanimous.

 

III.    DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

 

Chief Shagoury reported on the status of hiring a police officer.  He met with the top candidate last night and extended a conditional offer of employment.  However, if the candidate is offered the position, Police Academy training won’t happen in January, as the class is already overbooked.  Chairman Weeks wondered if there were any candidates who didn’t require the training.  Chief Shagoury reported that only one candidate qualified, but that he could only work part-time.

 

Shagoury also advised the Selectmen that he had reviewed the CIP’s report and noted that the numbers used included capital expenses (which makes the operational budget increases from year to year look larger than they are). 

 

Chairman Weeks noted that the CIP Committee had scheduled a work session for this Thursday, November 29 at 6 p.m. at the Town Office. 

 

4thMonday – Road Agent – Steve Hunter noted that all roads are all passable.  Braces have been installed on the High Street culvert, but no work is scheduled yet.  Forrester will call HEB and ask the status of the project.  Hunter noted that a few hazardous trees had been taken down on Tuftonboro Neck last week.

 

IV.     TOWN ADMINISTRATOR/ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT REPORT

          Administrative Assistant Report:  Cathy Pounder advised that she had spoken with Jackie Rollins about the request for taxes being paid in January instead of December.  Rollins said it was not a good idea because it would cause problems with revenues and expenditures.

 

          Town Administrator Report: 

1.     The Selectmen received their updated calendar and pending list.

2.     Letters were prepared for the EPA for the Community Energy Challenge and Ted Wright.

3.     Forrester advised that the penalties began on November 23rd for the junk car removal.

4.     MRI has provided a proposal for training options for financial operations, but has not provided a cost estimate.  Forrester asked MRI for that information.

  

V.      APPOINTMENTS:

          1. Scott Greenwood gave an update on the Transfer Station.  It was busy this weekend, with 400 cars coming through.  Scott advised that Fred Sargent had a quadruple bypass and came through fine.  There was no specific timeframe for when Fred would be returning to work.  There was a brief discussion about bringing on part-time help and whether the position should be an employee or a subcontractor.  The Selectmen advised that the individual should come in and fill out paperwork first.  Scott will bring Harvey Jenness in on Tuesday at 2 p.m. to complete paperwork.  Scott advised Primex did a walk-through of facility and had some general housekeeping comments.  Primex will followup with an inspection in six months.

 

          2. Dick O’Shaughnessy – Mandatory Recycling – Mr. O’Shaughnessy met with the Selectmen and encouraged them to institute mandatory recycling.  There was discussion about the benefits and drawbacks.  Chairman Weeks noted that the transfer station renovations warrant article failed last year.  These renovations were to encourage recycling efforts.  Weeks also noted that the CIP Committee did not see the benefit of recycling and did not recommend the renovations for this year.

 

          3. Chip Albee – Recycling – Mr. Albee met with the Selectmen to talk about the pay-per-bag idea.  He commented that while we might reduce the waste by recycling, that Waste Management would raise their prices to make up the difference in the reduced amount of waste being hauled.  There was a brief discussion about working with the NH DES and the legislature to make waste management a utility, like electricity. 

 

          4. Don Maurer – NH DES – Mr. Maurer met with the Selectmen and presented information on the benefits of recycling.  Information was provided about recycling efforts, costs, and methods of disposal (landfills and incinerators).

 

Maurer advised that in the year 2021, the state will run out of capacity unless we expand current landfills or begin permitting new landfills.  The other option will be to export the waste to other states.  He noted that 46 towns and cities have pay-as-you throw and NH DES is actively trying to encourage other towns and cities in NH to increase recycling efforts.

 

VI.     SIGNATURE:

          1. EPA Energy Star Partner Letter

          2. Thank you letter to Ted Wright for his service on the Conservation Commission

3.     Letter from HEB for bond reduction for Tuftonboro Farm subdivision

4.     2007 Equalization Municipal Assessment Data Sheets Certificate; the town’s assessment to sale median ratio is expected to be about 95% for the 2007 tax year, which is roughly a 2% change from last year’s ratio of 97.1%

5.     Building Permits:  James O’Reilly, Marco Antonelli, Thomas & Christine Buffa, Daniel & Sheila Burpee, Michaud Family Trust, Harvest Trust/Jim Libby.                               

VII.    NEW BUSINESS:

                                               

VIII.  CONTINUED BUSINESS:

          1. Lakes Region Planning Commission Membership – There was a discussion about joining the Lakes Region Planning Commission.  Selectman Duffy stated that he thought the Town should join the Commission.  Selectman Stockman agreed, stating that the Conservation Commission also wants to be a member.  There was a brief discussion about the benefits of being a member.  Selectman Duffy made a motion to join the Lakes Region Planning Commission.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Stockman.  Vote on the motion – Duffy – yes, Stockman – yes, Weeks – no.

 

          2. Tri-County CAP – Request to present a project: They want to present project to Selectmen which will take about 30 minutes.  Selectman Stockman suggested it would be a good idea.  The Selectmen agreed to invite them to make a presentation at one of their regularly scheduled meetings and will try for the 3rd week of December.

 

          3. DRA Sales Ratio Survey

 

IX.     CORRESPONDENCE:

1. HCPP Public Hearing

2. Joint Loss Safety Committee – Update

3. Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act Educational Opportunity

4. HEB - Request for Bond Reduction – Zadeda Farms

5. Wolfeboro Oil Company – Notification that it no longer sells off road diesel – there was a brief discussion

6. Carroll County Annual Report

7. Town of Moultonborough – Hosting Dig Safe System, Inc. – Safety Training Class

8. Avitar Associates Newsletter

9. Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella, PLLC – letter in response to Time Warner petition; brief discussion about status of the issue.

10. Healthy Kids Annual Meeting

11. John Simms CIP – Update – A public meeting to present the CIP Final Report has been scheduled for Dec 8 at 11 a.m. at the Tuftonboro Central School.  There is a work session for this Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Town Office to answer any questions and review information.   Simms asked if the Selectmen would like to be involved in the December 8 meeting.  The Selectmen will decide that after the Thursday evening meeting. 

12. NRRA – Newsletter

13. Assessor’s Exchange Newsletter

14. Tri-County CAP North Country Transit Meeting – public meeting in Berlin on Wednesday to talk about the program;

15. Town of Ossipee – Notice of Personal Wireless Services Facility Application

16. Time Warner Notice of New Prices for 2008

17. Thank-you from CASA

18. Chamber News from Greater Laconia-Weirs

         

X.      PUBLIC MEETING:

                   Tyler Phillips from Mirror Lake asked the Selectmen if there was an update on the status of the public safety facilities.  Chairman Weeks noted that the Selectmen have been working on a draft of the guidelines but have not finalized it, nor selected committee members.  Mr. Phillips commented that he was very disappointed in the status.  Chairman Weeks advised that the Selectmen have not been able to agree on the guidelines and are still working on that.   

 

Selectman Duffy advised that the Sarah Lamb territory walk, scheduled on December 1 at 1 p.m. is open to the public.  People will meet at the Dow house.  The rain date is December 8. 

John Simms asked if Town Office will be available for the CIP meeting on Nov 29.  Cathy Pounder advised “yes.”

 

XI.   ADJOURNMENT:  The Selectmen’s meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jeanie Forrester

Town Administrator